In Khale-Takhuntaing Village, Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen State, most residents who fled due to the military junta’s fighting and offensive have not been able to return home.
On September 14, a clash between the military junta forces and the joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) led to hostilities, forcing tens of thousands of residents to flee to safety.
At present, there is no active fighting in Khale-Takhuntaing Village; however, the military junta persists in deploying forces in the area and fires mortar shells at night, preventing residents from returning to their homes.
“The military junta is still stationed in Khale, Hpayarngarsu, Takhuntaing, firing mortar shells every night. Since they are there, we don’t know when the fighting will start again, so it’s not possible to go back to the village,” said a Khale resident who was fleeing.
According to Karen National Union (KNU), more than 15,000 residents have fled from fighting in Khale-Takhuntaing Village, Kyainseikgyi Township, Karen State.
According to the residents, only about one-third of those who fled have returned, and they are concerned that fighting may resume.
“Some people have returned home, but the majority have not yet done so. Over 1,000 people remain in the camp, where residents from Myoehaung, Khale, and Kamawtwan are sheltered. The number of returnees is relatively low, at about one-third,” said a refugee aid worker.
The residents have been fleeing for over 10 days, and access to both food and essential health medicines is becoming increasingly difficult.
On September 18, a civilian was killed and about 50 homes were damaged due to the indiscriminate firing of mortar shells by the military junta after the clash between the two sides, according to the KNU Center.
In Khale-Takhuntaing village, which is located within the 6th Brigade of the Karen National Union (KNU) in the Doo Pla Ya district, there are frequent clashes between the military junta and the joint forces of the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA).
In addition to civilian casualties resulting from the conflict, the military junta arrested and killed civilians, leading to frequent evacuations of thousands of local residents.
On the Khale-Takhuntaing side, a fierce battle occurred between the Karen National Liberation Army (KNLA) and its joint forces last July, forcing local residents from Naungdae, Pulain, Khale, Takhuntaing, and other villages in the region to seek safety elsewhere.
